Filling nozzle for apparatus for filling containers with liquid



y 22 1 L. DAY ET AL 2,746,666

C. FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Sept. 24, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJ: f A @017] LID al y 40 L eaF Bahl ATTORNEYS.

y 22, 1956 c. L. DAY ET AL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 INVENTURS:

C azl L. Du y, Lg G EP ahz i Ma/4mm) ATT )RNEYS.

8 6 0 7/4 qumx aw wwml s Q c. L.- DAY ET AL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID May 22, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 2 v 1 A 1 8 1 Q 1 \Q 2 o w 3 M 2 a 4 I. D /o 5 z a s s 5 B 1 1 1 1 1 P 1 1 \6 1s L h 1. 1 If; 4 4 6 9 F L ll 1 1i w L m 4 8 a H 4 2 a 1 1 w 4 :3 1 1 m. H 1 1 m ATM R NEYS,

C. L.- DAY ET AL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID May 22, 1956 Filed se i. 24, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS: Car Z Lunacy, K L ,ed F! Paid BY ATTORNEYS.

y 1956 c. 1.. DAY ET AL 2,746,663

FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Sept. 24, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS:

Carl L. Du y,

L eo EP ahl,

W Wm)?! WM ATTORNEYS.

M y 1956 c. L. DAY ET AL FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 INVENTORS:

gar] LLB a5, 1 11 80 F P ahl y 1955 c. DAY ET AL 2,746,663

FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPAR T S FUR FILLING v CONTAINERS WITH QUID 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Sept. 24, 195i INYENTOKS.

Curl lhpa yfl Leo FPahl United States Patent FILLING NOZZLE FOR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Application September 24, 1951, Serial No. 248,074

17 Claims. (Cl. 226-116) This invention relates to a filling nozzle or head for filling containers with non-carbonated or still liquid. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved filling nozzle for conventional automatic bottle filling machines of the type which have a filling platform, on which the bottle to be filled is positioned, and a superposed liquid reservoir, the gas or air space of which is under reduced pressure. In such machines the filling platform usually lifts to raise the bottle into engagement with the filling nozzle which depends from the liquid reservoir, though in some machines the liquid reservoir or filling nozzle may be lowered to accomplish such engagement.

The filling nozzle or head of such machines incorporates a valve which is opened by the engagement and movement of a portion of the nozzle by the container to be filled, to thus automatically permit liquid to flow from the reservoir through the nozzle and into the container. In order to prevent overflow of the container being filled, the nozzle is provided with an annular gasket or pad that is engageable with the mouth of the container to seal the same from the atmosphere. This seal creates the problem of properly venting air from the container during the filling thereof with liquid. Accordingly, the filler head must also be constructed to incorporate such a vent. The vent usually leads to the air space above the liquid in the reservoir, which space, for use with filler nozzles of the type under consideration, is under pressure less than atmospheric. Filling machines of this type are called vacuum machines. After the container has been filled, it is lowered from engagement with the nozzle to automatically close the valve and stop the flow of liquid.

Filler nozzles of the aforementioned type present numerous problems which must be overcome to provide satisfactory operation without undue complexity. Among these problems may be mentioned those of providing a structure which may be easily taken apart and cleaned for sanitary reasons, as when filling containers with various types of beverages, of providing a nozzle which is dripless to avoid a messy and unsanitary condition of the filling machine, and of preventing blocking of the vent passage with the liquid. Additionally, another problem involves the construction of a filler nozzle with a minimum of parts, in order to minimize crevices in which beverage residues may be deposited, for the purpose of meeting various sanitary codes affecting machines for filling bottles with milk and similar beverages.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved filler head for vacuum apparatus for filling containers with non-carbonated or still liquids.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filler nozzle of the type described which is dripless.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filler nozzle of the type described in which the liquid outlet 7 and the vent inlet are so located and arranged as to prevent blocking of the vent with liquid during the filling nozzle of the type described that can easily and quickly be disassembled for cleaningpurposes and can be reassembled in an extremely short time.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a nozzle of the type described with readily interchangeable tips for use in filling containers having different size mouths.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a nozzle of the type described having a minimum of parts to thereby avoid joint crevices in which beverage residues may collect so as to render inspection and cleaning of such nozzle an extremely simple operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of a container filling machine illustrating a filler nozzle embodying this invention in operative position over a container to be filled.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the filler nozzle illustrated in Figure 1, showing the container engaged therewith in position to start the filling operation.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts of the filler nozzle when open to permit liquid to flow therethrough during the filling operation.

Figures 4 and 8 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 are sectional views taken on' the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 2. Figure 11 is a View corresponding to Figure 2 of a modified form of filler nozzle embodying this invention. Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of the modified form of filler nozzle shown in Figure 11.

Figures 13, 15, 16, and 17 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 12.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig ure 11, showing a smaller nozzle tip.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on line 1919 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a perspective view, with portions cut away, of the nozzle body shown in Figure 11.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the rubber valve head shown in Figure 11.

Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle tip and the connecting nut and sealing gasket shown in Figure 11.

Figure 23 is a view corresponding to Figure 22 of th smaller nozzle tip parts shown in Figure 18.

Figure 24 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of another modified form of nozzle embodying this invention.

Figures 25, 26, 27, and 28 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 24.

Figure 29 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the nozzle tip shown in Figure 24.

Figure 30 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of still another modified form of filler nozzle embodying this invention.

Figures 31, 32, 33, and 34 are sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figure 30.

Referring now to the drawings, there are shown in Figure 1 a filling platform 40 and superposed, preferably constant level, liquid reservoir 42 that are conventional in automatic bottle filling machines of the type with which this invention is concerned. The air space 44 above the liquid in the reservoir 42 is maintained under a pressure less than atmospheric by means of suitable vacuum producing means, such as a pump (not shown). A'small mouthed beverage bottle 46 is shown on the platform in position to be filled, but it will be realized that a filler nozzle embodying this invention is adapted to fill all types of liquid containers, whether of glass or other material. The reservoir 42 is provided with a removable cover 48 and a depending boss or downspout 50 positioned directly over the filling platform 48. The downspout St has a smooth cylindrical bore 52 therethrough and is provided, adjacent the bottom wall 54 of the reservoir 42, with an upwardly facing frusto-conical valve seat 56.

A valve body 58 is mounted for vertical slide-ale move ment within the bore 52 of the downspout 50 and has an enlarged upper portion forming a shoulder 60 against which a detachable ring or annular valve head 62, preferably of rubber, is seated. The lower end of the valve head 62 has a frusto-conical valve surface 64 complementary to and seating on the valve seat. The reduced lower portion of the valve body 58 fits snugly within the bore 52 of the downspout 50 and extends downwardly to a point adjacent the lower end of the latter. The lower end of the valve body 58 is provided with a central circular recess 66 and extending vertically upwardly through the valve body from the recess 66 is a bore 68. A vent pipe 70 is mounted in a counterbore in the upper end of the bore 68 and extends upwardly into the reduced pressure air space 44 over the liquid in the reservoir 42.

Mounted in a central counterbore in the lower end of the valve body 58 and depending therefrom through the recess 66 is a relatively long filling tube 72, having a slightly contracted open lower end forming a discharge opening 74. Several lateral ports 76, three as illustrated in the drawings, are provided in the reduced lower portion of the valve body 53, immediately beneath the sealing surface 64 of the valve head 62, for communication with the upper end of the counterbore in which the filling tube 72 is mounted. These ports 76, when the valve body 58 is seated on the valve seat 56, as shown in Figure 2, are disposed completely within the bore 52 of the downspout 50. Another vertical bore 78 is provided in the valve body 58 in alignment with the filling tube 72 and in communication therewith. Mounted in this bore 78 is another vertically extending vent pipe 80 which extends upwardly into the reduced pressure air space 44 over the liquid in the reservoir 42.

A sleeve 82 is threadedly engaged within the recess 66 at the lower end of the valve body 58 and depends therefrom in concentric spaced relation over the filling tube 72. Secured to and depending from the lower end of the sleeve 82 is a concentric open ended vent tube 84, which terminates, at its lower end, a slight distance above the lower end of the filling tube 72. The interior diameters of both the sleeve 82 and the vent tube 84 are greater than the exterior diameter of the liquid tube 72 to provide an annular passageway 86 therebetween that communicates, at its upper end, with the circular recess 66 and thereby with the lower end of the bore 68 through the valve body. The annular passageway 86, recess 66, bore 68, and vent pipe 70 constitute a vent passage having an annular inlet 88 for placing the interior of a container being filled with liquid in communication with the air space 44 of the reservoir.

Threadedly mounted on the lower portion of the sleeve 82 and depending somewhat therefrom is an adjusting nut 90 having an inturned flange 92, somewhat inwardly of its lower end, closely surrounding the vent tube 84. Snugly mounted on the vent tube 84 and seated against the flange 92 is an annular sealing gasket or washer 94, of rubber or other appropriate material. This washer 94 is adapted to engage and seal the mouth of a container from the surrounding atmosphere during the filling operation. The threaded engagement of the nut 90 with the sleeve 82 provides a method by which the gasket 94 may be adjusted vertically relative to the sleeve to thereby atford a convenient method for adjusting the filling height or head space of the container.

Slidably mounted for vertical movement on the nut is a sleeve 96 having an externally threaded lower end. Engageable shoulders 98 on the lower ends of the sleeve 96 and the nut 90 serve to limit the downward movement of the sleeve 96 relative to, and to support the sleeve from, the nut 90. A bell-shaped guide 100 having a central circular opening 102 depends from and is supported by the sleeve 96 by means of a pair of upright legs 104 secured to the internally threaded split collar 106 that is threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve 96 and has a pair of radially extending ears 108 through which a bolt 110 may be threaded for clamping the collar securely to the sleeve. The purpose of this guide 100 is to correctly center the mouth of the container to be filled directly beneath the vent tube 84, and the filling tube 72, in case the container is improperly positioned on the filling platform 40. In the latter event, the guide 100 serves to move the container into correctly centered position with respect to the vent and filling tubes. It is to be noted that if the mouth of the container is too large to pass through the central circular opening 102 in the guide 100, the latter will rise, by reason of the vertical sliding mounting of the sleeve 96 on the nut 90, to permit the container mouth to engage with the sealing gasket 94.

The lower end of the downspout 50 is formed with a downwardly facing annular shoulder 112, while the intermediate portion of the sleeve 82 is formed with an upwardly facing shoulder 114. Seated against these shoulders 112 and 114 and snugly embracing the downspout 50 and the sleeve 82 are the upper and lower rims, respectively, of an annular resilient bellows-like sealing element 116, preferably made of rubber or other suitable material. This element provides a seal for the telescoping joint between the valve body 58, and the sleeve 82 threaded thereon, and. the downspout 50. The sleeve 82 has a lateral port 118 therethrough, normally positioned immediately beneath the lower end of the downspout 5t) and affording communication between the vent passage and the interior chamber 120 of the resilient sealing element 116. The purpose of this port 118 will be described later.

The operation of the filling nozzle of Figures 1 to 10 is as follows: With a container positioned on the filling platform 40, as illustrated in Figure 1, rotation of the filling table and reservoir results in raising the platform to cause the container mouth to move upwardly about the filling and vent tubes 72 and 84 into sealing engagement with the gasket 94, as shown in Figure 2, to thereby seal the interior of the container from the outside atmosphere. Because the vent passage is constantly open, the interior of the container is therefore placed under the reduced pressure of the reservoir air space 44-. In the event that the container is improperly centered on the filling platform, the guide 100 serves to properly center the mouth of tne container for reception of the lower ends of the vent tube and filling tube. Continued upward movement of the filling platform serves to raise the entire valve assembly, thereby lifting the valve head 62 from its seat 56 and permitting liquid to flow, by gravity, through the lateral ports 76, down the filling tube 72, and out of the discharge opening 74 into the container. Simultaneously, the air displaced from the container by the infiowing liquid flows upwardly through the vent passage into the air space 44. In this connection, it will be noted that the annular inlet 88 to the vent passage is positioned slightly above the circular discharge outlet 74 of the filling tube to prevent the liquid flowing from the filling tube from blocking or interfering with the venting of the container. The container will continue to be filled until the level of the liquid therein reaches the lower end of the vent tube 84, at which time the filling operation will cease. Liquid will continue to rise through the vent passage, however, until it stands in both vent pipes 70 and 80 at the level of the liquid in the reservoir 42. At this point the container is now filled and ready to be withdrawn.

, When the filling platform 40 lowers and the filled container starts its withdrawing or downward movement, the weight of the valve assembly, aided by the spring-like action of the resilient bellows-like element 116, maintains the seal between the mouth of the container and the annular gasket 94 until the valve head 62 seats on its seat 56. In this connection it will be noted that the lateral port 118 in the sleeve 82, when the valve assembly is in its uppermost position, is disposed within the lower end of the downspout 50 to thereby interrupt the communication between the vent passage and the chamber 120 within the resilient bellows-like element 116 to prevent liquid rising through the vent passage from entering the chamber. Downward movement of the valve assembly, however, serves to uncover the port 118 to prevent the resilient bellows-like element 116 from becoming suctionbound and retarding downward movement of the valve assembly. 1

As the filling platform continues to lower, the valve head 62 will seat upon its seat and simultaneously the container mouth will break away from its engagement with the annular gasket 94. At this instant, the reduced pressure within the air space 44 of the reservoir 42 becomes etfective to suck the liquid standing in the vent passage, up into the reservoir, thus clearing the vent passage of liquid in preparation for the next filling cycle. It is pointed out that the pressure in the air space 44 is not low enough to prevent the filled container from breaking, by gravity, its sealing engagement with the gasket 94.

At the end of the downward movement of the Valve assembly, liquid is trapped and stands within the filling tube 72, lateral ports 76, and the vent pipe 80. Simultaneously with the breaking away of the container mouth from its sealing engagement with the gasket 94, the reduced pressure within the air space 44 of the reservoir becomes effective through the vent pipe 80 to suck the liquid standing in the filling tube 72, lateral ports 76, and the vent pipe 80, up into the reservoir 42, thus preventing any drip of liquid from the filling tube 72 after the mouth of the container is disengaged from the annular gasket 94 and the container is lowered completely away from the filler nozzle. Thus, the suction efiected through the vent pipe 80 serves to prevent any messy or unsanitary condition of the filling machine because of any after-drip from the nozzle.

Thereafter another container is positioned on the filling platform and the above described filling cycle is repeated.

The construction of the nozzle facilitates the ease of disassembly for cleaning and of reassembly in operating position within the reservoir downspout 50. A relatively long arm 122 extends laterally from ithe upper portion of the valve body 58 within the reservoir 42 in position to engage with a side wall of the latter upon rotation of the valve body. Hence, such engagement will maintain the valve body 58 stationary while the sleeve 82, together with the parts mounted thereon, is unscrewed from the valve body and pulled downwardly from its engagement with the lower rim of the resilient bellowslike element 116. The valve body 58, together with the parts mounted thereon, may then be withdrawn upwardly out of the downspout 50. The bellows-like element 116 may also be pulled downwardly from engagement with the downspout 50 and thereafter the removed upper and lower sections of the valve assembly disassembled separately for cleaning. Reassembly of the filler nozzle will be obvious from the above description.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 11, the construction of the nozzle is considerably simplified with resulting reduction in the number of parts. Additionally, this embodiment of the nozzle incorporates a detachable tip for interchangeability of ditferent size tips to accommodate containers having mouths of different size. As shown best in the drawings, that portion of the valve body 58 positioned within the reservoir 42 extends vertically above the level of the liquid in the attends reservoir and the lower end of the valve body extends below the lower end of the downspout 50. A single vertical bore 124 extends completely through the valve body 58 and is enlarged from a point adjacent the valve head 62 to the lower end of the valve body. As in the first described embodiment, a lateral port 76 immediately beneath the valve head 62 serves to admit liquid to the bore 124 when the valve body 58 is raised off its seat 56. A unitary valve tip 126 having an upper exterior radial flange 128 is detachably fastened to the lower end of the valve body 58 by means of a coupling ring or nut 130 threadedly engaged with the lower end of the valve body. Immediately above the threads on the valve body, the body is provided with opposite flats 132 for engagement with a wrench to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of the nut 130.

The tip 126 comprises a filling tube 134 having an exterior longitudinal indentation 136 in which a vent tube 138 is mounted, as with silver solder. The vent tube 138 extends from the lower end of the tip 126 upwardly through the bore 124 in the valve body 58 and projects slightly above the upper end thereof. The tube 138 is of smaller diameter than that of the reduced upper portion of the bore 124 to provide an annular vent passageway 140 therebetween. The outlet 142 of the filling tube 134 and the inlet 144 to the vent tube 138 are oppositely beveled in order to provide a somewhat sharpened configuration to the lower end of the tip 126 in order to facilitate its introduction into the mouth of a container to be filled.

Mounted with a pressed fit on the tip 126 and engaged against the underside of the nut 130 is an annular sealing gasket or washer 94. This gasket 94, as in the first described embodiment of the invention, serves to sealingly engage the mouth of the container to be filled and to seal such container from the surrounding atmosphere.

The operation of the above described filling headof Figures 11 to 17 is substantially the same as that described in conjunction with Figure 2 of the invention. Upward movement of the container 46 first serves to seal the mouth of the same against the washer 94 and continued upward movement unseats the valve body 58 from its seat 56 to the position shown in Figure 12 and permits liquid to flow through the lateral port '76, down the bore 124, through the filling tube 134, and into the container. Simultaneously, air displaced from the container by the infiowing liquid flows upwardly through the vent tube 138 into the air space 44 in the reservoir. It will be noted in this connection that the spacing between the discharge outlet 142 of the filling tube 134 and the inlet 144 to the vent tube 138 prevents inflowing liquid from interfering or blocking the venting of the container during the filling operation.

As before, the container will continue to be filled until the liquid reaches the lower end of the vent tube 138, at which time the filling operation will cease, but liquid will continue to rise through the vent tube 138, and also in the vent passageway 140, until it stands therein at the level of the liquid in the reservoir. Lowering of the container 46 permits the valve body 58 to descend therewith and, because of its weight, to maintain the seal between the mouth of the container and the sealing gasket 94 until the valve body seats on its seat 56. At this instant, the container mouth breaks away from the sealing washer 94 and the suction caused by the reduced pressure in the air space 44 becomes eifective to suck liquid standing in the vent tube 133 up into the reservoir and also liquid trapped in the bore 124 and filling tube 134 up through the annular vent passageway 140 into the reservoir 42.

It will be obvious that the unitary construction of the nozzle tip, which incorporates both the filling and vent tubes, permits the same to be readily detached from the valve body 58, by unscrewing the nut 130, for disassembly and cleaning purposes. Also, such unitary construction permits the use of different size interchangeable tips with a single valve body. For example, the tip shown in Figures 11 and 22 is for filling beverage bottles having a 38 mm. mouth, while the tip shown in Figures 18 and 23 is for filling bottles having a 26 mm. mouth. The filling height or head space may be adjusted by replacing the gasket 94 with one of different thickness.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figures 24 to 29 is similar to that shown in Figures 11 to 17 save that the use of threads is eliminated to effect greater sanitation in filling milk bottles, such as the bottle 146. in this modification the lower end of the valve body 58, instead of being threaded, is provided with a radial flange 148. The upper end of the detachable tip 126 is also provided with a radial flange or bead 150, and an annular resilient coupling element 152 having an interior circumferential groove 154 is used to secure the tip 126 to the nozzle body 58. Thus, the use of threads is avoided for greater ease of cleaning and making for a more sanitary construction. It also will be noted that the sealing gasket or washer 94 seats against the underside of a radial flange 156 on the tip spaced somewhat below the bead 150. Additionally, the nozzle tip 126 of this modification consists of a cylindrical filling tube 134, of stainless steel or other appropriate material, having the vent tube 138 secured, as with silver solder, to an interior side thereof. It is also pointed out that when the valve body 58 is raised, the element 152 engages the lower end of the downspout 50 to seal the telescoping joint between the valve body and the downspout.

The ultimate in simplicity of construction, with a minimum number of parts, of a filler nozzle embodying this invention is illustrated in Figure 30. This nozzle, which has been used successfully to fill bottles with buttermilk, consists essentially of a one-piece member 158 that extends upwardly into the airspace 44 and downwardly below the downspout 54) to form an integral valve body and tip having the valve head 62 and gasket 94 mounted thereon. The member 158 has parallel bores 160 and 162 extending vertically therethrough, with the bore 160 preferably somewhat larger than the bore 162. The lower end of the member 158 is reduced in diameter for insertion into the mouth of the mill: bottle 146 and to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 164 against which the annular sealing washer 94 is seated. A lateral port 76 in the member 158 opens into the bore 160 immediately beneath the valve head 62 so that portion of the bore 160 below the port constitutes a filling tube while that portion thereabove constitutes a vent passageway. The other bore 162 constitutes the vent passage. It also is to be noted that when the member 158 is moved upwardly by the container 14-6, the annular sealing gasket 94 seats against the lower end of the downspout 50 to thereby provide a seal against leakage between the member 1158 and the downspout 50 during the filling operation.

The one-piece construction shown in Figure 30, which constitutes a unitary valve body and tip having two detachable rubber sealing elements, the valve head 62 and the sealing gasket 94, affords the simplest construction possible and provides an extremely sanitary structure which may easily be cleaned and inspected. The operation of this modification is obvious from the description of the operation of the modification shown in Figure 11.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved. It will be realized, however, that the specific embodiments used to illustrate the principles of the invention are susceptible to various changes by one skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention embraces all modifications which are encompassed by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with filling apparatus having a filling platform and a superposed liquid reservoir provided with a vacuumized air space, at least one of which is vertically movable, of a filler nozzle comprising: a

vertically movable valve assembly having separate passages extending therethrough from the lower to the upper end thereof, each of said passages being adapted to provide communication between the interior of a container to be filled and said air space of said liquid reservoir; a downwardly facing valve surface on said assembly cooperating with a valve seat in an outlet to said reservoir; means defining a lateral port in said body below said surface and communicating with one of said passages between the ends thereof; and means on said assembly for sealingly engaging the mouth of the container with the lower ends of said passages in communication with the interior of the container.

2. The combination with a vacuum-venting filling machine having a source of suction, a filling platform, and a superposed liquid reservoir, the combination of a filler nozzle comprising: an assembly having a portion thereof depending from said reservoir for insertion into a container to be filled; means defining a pair of passages extending upwardly through said depending portion from the lower end thereof and communicating, at their upper ends, with said source of suction; a lateral port in one of said passages between the ends thereof for inflow of liquid from said reservoir; valve means above said port controlling said inflow; and means on said assembly for sealing the mouth of the container thereto with the lower ends of said passages in communication with the interior of said container.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which the assembly is vertically movable and the valve means is opened by upward movement of said assembly.

4. The combination with container filling apparatus having a filling platform, a superposed vacuumized liquid reservoir, one of which is vertically movable, an outlet in the bottom of said reservoir, and a valve seat associated with said outlet, of a filler nozzle comprising: a valve body assembly mounted for vertical movement in said reservoir outlet for cooperation with said seat and having a liquid passage extending upwardly from the lower end thereof and provided with an inlet for communication with said reservoir and inflow of liquid upon upward movement of said assembly; means defining a vent passage extending upwardly through said assembly from the lower end thereof for communication with the air space in said reservoir; means on said assembly for sealingly engaging the mouth of a container with the lower ends of said passages in communication with the interior thereof; and separate passage means in said as sembly for providing communication between said liquid passage, adjacent said inlet, and said vacuumized air space in said reservoir.

5. The combination with container filling apparatus having a filling platform and a superposed vacuumized liquid reservoir, at least one of which is vertically movable, of a filling nozzle depending from said reservoir and comprising: a vertically movable valve assembly having a pair of spaced concentric tubes depending centrally therefrom for insertion into a container to be filled; an upwardly facing valve seat for said assembly; means defining a lateral port in said assembly normally below said seat and communicating with said inner tube; passage means in said assembly providing communication between the air space in said reservoir and the space between said tubes; separate passage means on said assembly providing communication between the air space in said reservoir and said inner tube; and gasket means on said outer tube sealingly engageable with the mouth of a container to be filled.

6. The structure defined in claim 5, in which the separate passage means communicates with the inner tube adjacent the lateral port.

7. In a filler nozzle for use with filling apparatus having a liquid reservoir provided with upstanding side walls and a downspout from which the nozzle depends, the combination of upper and lower threadedly joined nozzle sections, the upper section having a portion thereof disposed within the reservoir and the lower section having at least a portion thereof disposed below the downspout and of larger cross-sectional configuration than the interior of the latter, and a lateral arm secured to said upper section within the reservoir and engaging a side wall thereof to maintain said upper section against rotation when threadedly connecting or disconnecting said lower section thereto or therefrom.

8. A filler nozzle for use with container filling apparatus having a filling platform, a superposed vacuumized liquid reservoir, one of which is vertically movable, an outlet in the bottom of the reservoir, and a valve seat associated with the outlet, said nozzle comprising: a valve body to be mounted for vertical movement in the outlet and to extend upwardly into the vacuumized air space in the reservoir, said body having a vertical bore extending therethrough and a lateral port communicating with said bore between the ends thereof for inflow of liquid upon upward movement of said body; a nozzle tip detachably secured to the lower end of said body for insertion into a container to be filled, said tip having a filling passage therethrough communicating with said bore and a vent tube secured to said tip and extending from the lower end thereof upwardly through said bore, in spaced relation to the walls of said bore, to the upper end of said body, and gasket means on said tip for sealingly engaging the mouth of a container to be filled.

9. The structure defined in claim 8 including a coupling ring threaded onto the lower end of the valve body for detachably securing the tip thereto.

10. The structure define in claim 8 in which the adjacent ends of the valve body and the tip are provided with radial flanges and including an annular resilient member having an internal annular groove embracing said flanges for detachably securing said tip to said body.

11. The structure defined in claim 8 in which the filling passage is larger than the vent tube.

12. The structure defined in claim 8 in which the bore is enlarged downwardly of the lateral inlet port.

13. The structure defined in claim 8 in which the tip comprises a tubular member having a longitudinal exterior indentation in which the vent tube is secured.

14. The structure defined in claim 8 in which the tip comprises a tubular member and the vent tube is secured therewithin to the side wall thereof.

15. The structure defined in claim 8 in which the lower end of the tip terminates in two downwardly converging planes with the outlet to the filling passage located in one plane and the inlet to the vent tube in the other.

16. The combination with container filling apparatus having a filling platform, a superposed vacuumized liquid reservoir, one of which is vertically movable, an outlet in the bottom of said reservoir, and a valve seat associated with said outlet, of a filler nozzle comprising: a valve body mounted for vertical movement in said outlet and extending upwardly into said reduced-pressure air space in said reservoir and downwardly for insertion into a container to be filled, said body having separate passages extending vertically therethrough, each providing communication between the interior of the container and the air space in said reservoir, and said body further having a lateral port communicating with one of said passages between the ends thereof for inflow of liquid from said reservoir upon upward movement of said body; and gasket means on the lower end of said body for sealingly engaging the mouth of a container to be filled.

17. In container filling apparatus having a filling platform and a superposed liquid reservoir, at least one of which is vertically movable, and a downspout depending from the reservoir, the combination of a valve seat associated with the downspout, a filler nozzle mounted for vertical movement in the downspout and depending therebelow for insertion into a container to be filled, said nozzle having valve surfaces cooperating with said seat and a liquid passage therethrough for flow of liquid into the container upon upward movement of said nozzle, and a gasket on the depending portion of said nozzle and spaced below the lower rim of the downspout in the lower position of said nozzle, said gasket having an upper surface to sealingly engage the lower rim of the downspout on upward movement of said nozzle and a lower surface to sealingly engage the mouth of a container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,781 Miller Oct. 21, 1902 738,622 Miller Sept. 8, 1903 781,165 Schneider Jan. 31, 1905 2,363,543 Miller Nov. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,996 France July 18, 1923 271,658 Great Britain June 2, 1927 568,654 Germany Jan. 28, 1933 

